Automated Targetless Snapshot Management for Storage Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data backup solutions for storage systems, such as zDP, require manual setting of snapshot parameters like frequency and retention policy, leading to complex resource management and often result in underutilization or improper configuration.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that estimates storage space needed for new snapshots based on expected data changes, deletes current snapshots by oldest creation date to free up space, and creates new snapshots, managed by a storage resource pool to convert unallocated space into allocated space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual snapshot parameter configuration is used, then snapshot functionality can be provided, but system complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors storage space usage and manages snapshot creation and deletion without requiring manual operator intervention. The snapshot manager autonomously determines when to create snapshots based on available storage space and automatically deletes expired snapshots, making the system self-managing and eliminating operational burden while maintaining snapshot functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts snapshot creation parameters based on real-time storage conditions. Instead of using fixed manual parameters, the snapshot manager continuously adapts the snapshot creation decision based on current storage space availability, data change rates, and retention policies, optimizing snapshot operations without requiring manual parameter configuration
2Reliability
If snapshot frequency and retention are manually optimized, then data protection effectiveness can be improved, but operational time and expertise requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The snapshot manager implements continuous monitoring of storage space usage, data change rates, and snapshot expiration status. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust snapshot creation frequency and manage retention policies based on real-time conditions, ensuring effective data protection while eliminating the need for manual optimization and configuration time
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively manages snapshot storage space by predicting future space requirements and automatically deleting expired snapshots before space becomes critical. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient space is always available for creating new snapshots when needed, maintaining data protection effectiveness without requiring manual intervention or configuration time
3Ease of operation
If storage space for snapshots is allocated in advance, then snapshot creation is simplified, but storage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-allocation of storage space to dynamic space management. The snapshot manager continuously monitors actual storage usage and automatically reclaims space by deleting expired snapshots, allowing the storage allocation to adapt dynamically to actual needs. This maintains ease of operation while significantly improving storage space utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically discards expired snapshots and recovers their storage space for reuse. The snapshot manager identifies snapshots that have exceeded their retention period, deletes them, and makes the freed space available for new snapshot creation. This process maintains simple operation while optimizing storage space utilization by ensuring space is continuously reused rather than permanently allocated
Data Source
AI summary
Providing automated targetless snapshots for storage volumes includes estimating storage space needed for a new set of the snapshots based on an amount of expected change of data on the storage volumes, deleting current snapshots to free up an amount of space corresponding to estimated storage space for the new set of the snapshots, and creating the new set of the snapshots. The current snapshots may be selected for deletion based on creation date of the snapshots. Snapshots with an oldest creation data may be deleted. The storage volumes may be provided on a storage system. The storage system may show storage space used by the snapshots as unallocated. Storage space used by the snapshots may be managed by a storage resource pool. The storage resource pool may convert storage space shown as unallocated into allocated storage space in response to snapshots provided therein being converted into accessible snapshots.